Sophies Chocolate Biscuit Cake Recipes

Steps:

• Make the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spread the hazelnuts on a rimmed baking sheet and toast in the oven, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 10 minutes. Let cool, then chop.
• Butter the bottom and sides of an 8-inch springform pan; set aside. Toss the hazelnuts and cookies in a large bowl. Combine the butter, golden syrup and salt in a medium saucepan over medium heat and cook, stirring, until the butter is melted (do not boil). Remove from the heat and stir in the chocolate, cocoa powder and vanilla until smooth, then whisk in the chocolate-hazelnut spread.
• Pour the chocolate mixture over the cookie mixture and stir to coat. Transfer to the prepared pan and press down evenly until tightly packed. Place a piece of plastic wrap directly onto the surface and refrigerate until set, at least 6 hours or overnight.
• Make the ganache: Put the chocolate in a small bowl. Heat the heavy cream and golden syrup in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the syrup dissolves and the mixture is just bubbling around the edges. Pour over the chocolate and let stand 5 minutes, then stir until smooth. Let sit at room temperature until thickened but still pourable, 30 minutes to 1 hour. (It should look like a soft pudding.)
• Remove the cake from the refrigerator and let sit at room temperature, 45 minutes. Remove the springform ring and invert the cake onto a cake stand or serving plate; remove the bottom of the pan. Pour about one-third of the cooled ganache over the top of the cake and gently spread with a small offset spatula, allowing the excess to drip down the sides. Repeat with the remaining ganache in two more batches until the top and sides of the cake are covered. Sprinkle mini chocolate chips around the top edge of the cake.

Steps:

• Break the chocolate into squares and place in a heatproof bowl with the butter. Set over a pan of simmering water and allow to melt. Remove from the heat and mix in the cream and golden syrup by hand, which will take a few minutes.
• Break the digestive biscuits into large chunks and gently fold into the chocolate mixture so as not to break up the biscuits too much. Using a spatula, transfer to a 900ml (1 1/2 pints) loaf tin that has been double lined with clingfilm, as this makes the cake much easier to lift out. Chill for at least 2 hours, though overnight is best.
• To serve, turn out the chocolate biscuit cake onto a platter. Break the white chocolate into squares, if using, and melt in a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water. Drizzle all over the chocolate biscuit cake and leave at room temperature to set for about 20 minutes before cutting into slices and arranging on plates.